As part of its mandate, which is to promote road user safety programmes, Road Fund has sponsored the Road Safety Department to undertake the Annual Easter Campaign, which is being conducted countrywide from April 10 to 26, 2019.
The campaign was recently launched by the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr. Mokherane Tsatsanyane, at a ceremony held at Maseru Day High School.
In his speech, the Deputy Minister said the success of the campaign depends on all stakeholders coming together to join hands in dealing with safety on the roads, adding that government on its own would not succeed even if they tried.
He said road users need to take road safety seriously, as many lives are lost on the roads due to among others negligence, reckless driving and drunken driving.
“It is the responsibility of each road user to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy, passengers should also be vigilant to ensure that they remain safe especially on public transport, they should not allow any overloading of vehicles”, he reiterated.
He further urged pedestrians to be equally cognizant of their safety at all times, adding that no road user should lose their lives to road accidents, especially during the campaign period.
He concluded by thanking the Road Fund for annual support in funding the initiative, which is aimed at ensuring that all Basotho and those visiting the country are safe at all times.
Speaking at the occasion the Road Fund Chief Executive Officer Mr. Nkekeletse Makara pledged continued support of such initiatives, aimed at ensuring safety in the country’s roads.
Of critical importance, he mentioned, is that Road Safety Department should compile and disseminate information on the impact resultant of the campaigns, which are held year in, year out.
“As the Fund we are committed to contribute to the country’s safety on roads, but we are also concerned about that the impact of these campaigns, we would like to be assured that they are contributing to the reduction of fatalities as anticipated”, he explained.
He concluded by saying that when the impact is visible Road Fund would not hesitate to increase funding for these campaigns, because the results would then be evident to everyone.
The Road Safety Department Director Dr. Kinini Mathews urged government to put road safety high in the agenda, so that her department can enhance education and work with other stakeholders to ensure that law is enforced on the roads.
She pleaded with all road users to cooperate with officials who will undertake the campaign, saying that road safety is the responsibility of all Basotho as long as they are road users.
Other Officials who spoke at the ceremony reiterated the importance of road safety and reduction of road accidents which result in increased fatalities and damage to property.

The Road Fund sponsored the campaign with about M200, 000.00